ANNUAL NIGHT LIFE EVENTS

VIENNESE BALL

NIGHT LIFE EVENTS YOU SIMPLY CANNOT MISS

Anight on the town doesn’t necessarily have to mean another visit to your favorite watering hole. A variety of venues and organizations offer happenings each year that provide unique social experiences washed down with adult beverages, often to benefit worthy causes. Check this list for ideas, then consult the events calendar at VolumeOne.org for specifics as the dates approach.

FIREBALL • Late February • UWEC • The Fire Ball is UW-Eau Claire’s drag ball extravaganza. Each year in the Spring, the Ojibwe Grand Ballroom plays host to local and national drag performers who turn it out for packed audiences. Grab some specialty cocktails, sit back, and watch headlining drag superstars from RuPaul’s Drag Race and beyond.

VIENNESE BALL • Mid April • UWEC • A formal event recalling the romance and elegance of 19th-century Vienna transforms all three levels of Davies Center. Waltz in the grand ballroom, swing dance to Big Band standards, polka in the informal festival hall, sing along in the piano bar, dine on delicious entrees and desserts, grab drinks and cocktails from the many beverage stations, and hear showcase performances on the Bösendorfer Imperial Grand Piano.

NORTHWEST BEERFEST • Late April • Chippewa Area Ice Arena • Come try over 100 different craft beers from over 50 breweries. Ticket includes beer sampling, food, and a commemorative glass. Sponsored by Gordy’s Valley Spirits and the Chippewa Falls Hockey Association.

HOPS 4 HOCKEY BEER FEST • Early September • Hobbs Ice Arena • Hops 4 Hockey is the Chippewa Valley’s premier beer tasting event. We feature hundreds of local, regional and national craft beers. The proceeds from the event go toward the Center Ice Club Foundation which supports hockey programs and rink/facility improvements in the Chippewa Valley.

ANNUAL GATSBY’S GALA • Early November • UWEC Step back to the roaring ‘20s where you’ll be surrounded by sights and sounds of the era. Featuring non-stop music from UWEau Claire’s Jazz I and Jazz II ensembles, including modern tunes with a ‘20s feel, and special guest artists throughout the night. Come dressed in your favorite 1920’s-inspired black-tie attire and get ready to party!

EAU CLAIRE JAZZ FEST • April • Downtown Eau Claire • A night of headliner jazz concerts at the Pablo Center, and downtown Eau Claire transforms into a jazz crawl with musical performances up and down South & North Barstow Avenues in participating businesses. Grab a drink and swing.

VOLUME ONE PRESENTS THE BEST NIGHT • Early February • The Lismore • The Best Night will return in 2023. A creative, dynamic, and interactive cocktail party — a celebratory evening of food, drinks, music, technology, art, and camaraderie. A chance to celebrate the very best of the Chippewa Valley.

M EA S HA VEITH

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BAR GUIDE

and menu of pub fare. 15 rotating taps and specialty beers on hand. Get your happy hour taps from 2-5pm Tuesday through Thursday, or order half-price appetizers at the bar 2-5pm Tuesday through Thursday. New drinks and cocktails made seasonally. H O GIROLAMO’S COURT ‘N HOUSE BAR & GRILL

113 W. Grand Ave., Eau Claire • (715) 8325478 • This long-time hotspot is a casual place for talking. On Thursday it’s overtaken by burger specials, and on Sunday it’s all about the Packers. Locals and students alike flock for the late-night food, happy hour (Monday through Thursday 4-7pm), free popcorn, 20 rotating taps, 20 specialties, darts, and an array of board games. H S Q HILLTOP TAVERN 924 E. Madison St., Eau Claire • (715) 835-9223 • Find it on Facebook • A popular spot on game days and known for its dart leagues, this sports bar has drink deals and free snacks for happy hour (weekdays 4-7pm). They serve food late and have an outdoor patio. There are also touch-screen and Wii games, plus bean bags in summer. Four taps and a couple of specialty beers. H O S HOULIGANS STEAK & SEAFOOD PUB 415 S.

Barstow St., Eau Claire • (715) 835-6621 • houligans.net • Other than the intimate dining atmosphere, Houligans is best known for its specialty beer selection: There are 17 total taps and even more beers to choose from. Houligans is also know for having an impressive selection of wine; on Tuesdays, you can get half price your favorite bottle with the purchase of two entrées. Happy hour is 4-7pm every Tuesday through Thursday. Outdoor patio, party room holds 100 for cocktails and 70 for dining. H O Q THE INFORMALIST 205 S. Barstow Street, First Floor of the Lismore Hotel, Eau Claire • (715) 318-7399 • theinformalist.com • At The Informalist, the restaurant on the ground floor of The Lismore Hotel, there is a separate penny-topped bar serving exclusive cocktails: day drinks like and or dinner drinks like The Seamus (new drink menu on the 1st). Pair your drink with something from their carefully crafted food menu or with a wood-fired pizza. O THE LAKELY (AT THE OXBOW HOTEL) 516

Galloway St., Eau Claire • 715-839-0601 • thelakely.com • Located inside the Oxbow Hotel in downtown Eau Claire, The Lakely boasts a locallysourced, farm-to table seasonal menu. Behind the bar, they feature a cleverly curated list of craft cocktails and dozens of microbrews, with a heavy emphasis on the artisan distilleries and breweries found here in the Upper Midwest. Thursday through Saturday evenings they host local and touring jazz and other live music, along with vinyl theme nights on their signature stage. Their courtyard patio has outdoor lounge seating, high-tops, two fire pits, a kubb lawn, and more. O LAZY MONK BREWING TAPROOM 97 West

Madison Street, Eau Claire • (715) 271-0848 • lazymonkbrewing.com • Lazy Monk Brewing was created out of a desire to serve local people good quality beers. They specialize in brewing Czech and German beers and will also have British and American seasonal beers as well as special limited-edition holiday beers. Two of their most popular beers are the Bohemian Pilsner and the Bohemian Dark Lager. Their new European-style beer hall in downtown Eau Claire includes a deck overlooking the Chippewa River and is frequently visited by food trucks. O S Q

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ETH S NDREA PAUL A

THE GIN MILL

THE LIVERY (AKA COWTOWN SALOON) 316

7088 • ninjaeauclaire.com • Downtown Eau

Wisconsin St., Eau Claire • (715) 833-7666 • theliveryec.com • An Eau Claire original bar known for its mojitos and nightly bonfires, The Livery has a “vintage country meets modern urban” aesthetic. The bar offers regular happy hour specials and a wide range of beers, including 12 taps. There’s a large outdoor patio with a bonfire at dusk nightly (if the weather’s nice). A game room features a pool table, touch screen games, dart board, and the mounted heads of wild game on the walls. V1 readers frequently rank it highly for Drinkin’, Talkin’, and Indoor Games in our annual poll. Happy hour is 3-6pm daily and all day Tuesday. Closed Sundays and Mondays. H O S Claire’s newest Asian eatery has a full bar, so you can sip sake (that’s Japanese rice wine) with your sushi. There are plenty of specialty drinks, as well as eight tap beers, including imported and craft brews. Food service continues until 2am on the weekends.

THE PLUS 208 S. Barstow St., Eau Claire • (715) 832-8844 • facebook.com/ThePlusEC •

THE MOUSETRAP 311 S. Barstow St., Eau Claire • (715) 832-8418 • themousetrapeauclaire.com • Known The Plus (formerly known as Pizza Plus) is the place to be for nighttime entertainment, from live-band karaoke to top touring comedians. With a happy hour running daily (except Saturday) from 3-6pm and 10pm-midnight and live comedy and music throughout the week, you’re bound to have a great time. Come enjoy one of the 26 beers on tap, or play games in the arcade room. H O

for its free live music almost every weekend, pool and dart leagues, and constant happy hour and game specials, The Mousetrap is a favorite downtown hangout. The classic tavern has a mixed atmosphere with people in back playing pool, darts, or foosball, others at the bar watching the game, some more in the live music nook enjoying the tunes, and a few outside on the back smoker’s patio. They have 10 taps, and roughly 20 specialty beers. Open mic every Sunday. H O S Q

THE RED ROOM 302 E Madison St, Eau Claire • (715) 855-0000 • Find LISTINGS, REVIEWS it on Facebook • An Eau Claire original

AND MORE AT with monochromatic decor, The Red Room VOLUMEONE.ORG/FOOD is known for being a narrow and deep tavern with a long bar, large TVs, a great game room with pool, darts, foosball, and retro arcade games, and a top-notch outdoor patio with a beer pong table. They have seven taps and about 30 specialty beers, complimentary popcorn, a happy hour weekdays, and an enlarged menu of appetizers and sandwiches from Stella Blues next

MY OFFICE BAR 408 Galloway St., Eau Claire • (715) 835-5483 • facebook.com/myoffi ceeau A great place for a drink and to cut loose after a hard days work. State of the art DJ and light system, dance floor, and karaoke nights. NINJA JAPANESE AND CHINESE RESTAURANT

405 S. Barstow St., Eau Claire • (715) 598door. H O S SCOOTER’S 411 Galloway St., Eau Claire • (715) 835-9959 • facebook.com/ScootersEC/ • Scooters is our premier spot for LGBTQ nightlife, and among the best dance clubs, too. They have live DJs every Friday and Saturday, karaoke every Thursday and Sunday, plus regular drag shows. There are drink specials every day, as well as pool, darts, touch-screen games, free popcorn, six specialty beers, and eleven taps. It’s a good spot for Packer games, with eight TVs, free food, and specials. Named Best Place for Dancing by V1 readers for 10 years in a row! O S Q

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THE SPORTS PAGE BAR 131 N Barstow St,

Eau Claire • (715) 832-7798 • As if the name wasn’t enough of an indicator, The Sports Page is all about sports. From the decor and fantasy leagues to the gameday specials and game options. There’s darts and video games. There’s four taps, one is always a specialty and a handful of other specialty beers, plus frozen pizzas and snacks. Happy hour runs from 3-6pm Monday through Friday. There’s tap specials on Tuesdays and bottle specials on Thursdays, as well as pitcher specials on Sundays and other specials during sporting events. H O S STELLA BLUES 306 Madison St., Eau Claire • (715) 855-7777 • stellablues.biz • Stella Blues’ lineup of imbibables is impressive to say the least. There are 21 constantly rotating taps, a monstrous specialty drink list with about 50 martinis and margaritas to choose from, numerous wine options, and the amazing Cajun menu. Happy hour is 4-6pm Monday-Friday. They have an outdoor patio and a great party room with full bar that holds about 190. Closed Sundays. H O STONES THROW 304 Eau Claire St., Eau Claire • (715) 832-8888 • Located inside the beautiful and historic Barnes Block at the corner of Barstow and Eau Claire streets, this long-time downtown tavern has darts, pool, and shuffleboard, plus a dance/stage area on the bar level. There are 14-plus taps and a variety of specialty beers. Sometimes hosts live music, including an open jam on Thursdays. Open Tuesday though Saturday. H WIGWAM TAVERN 314 E. Madison St., Eau Claire • (715) 834-9061 • wigwamtavern. com • This bar and grill is known for its food and regular entertainment/recreation events. The have popular karaoke nights on Thursdays and Fridays, plus summer volleyball leagues (at The Depot), darts (leagues available), and a pool table. Their small outdoor patio has two picnic tables. Enjoy any of their half dozen tap beer options and about as many specialties. Food usually served until midnight. O Q Eau Claire Eastside

THE ALIBI LOUNGE 2112 Esmond Road, Eau Claire • (715) 514-0815 • Find us on Facebook • This newly re-opened tavern, formerly known as Shots, is a cozy getaway with big plans. When warm weather comes, enjoy the outdoor tiki bar, beanbags, and other outdoor activities on the remodeled patio. Happy hour runs 3-6pm Monday through Friday. On Saturday and Sunday, the Alibi offers a must-have loaded Bloody Mary special and a tasty drink called a Sunrise. H O CANCUN MEXICAN GRILL 805 S. Hastings

Way, Eau Claire • (715) 552-8011 • cancunmexicangrillwi.com • This family owned, sit-down Mexican restaurant and bar is known for its lively atmosphere. Order a margarita in strawberry, raspberry, mango, peach, banana, tamarindo, or regular – happy hour runs all day Monday and Tuesday. If you’re a beer drinker, they have two specialty choices and six on tap. Margaritas are 99 cents on Mondays and Tuesdays. H FIVE O’CLOCK CLUB 2240 Fenwick Ave., Eau Claire • (715) 834-1748 • Find us on

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Facebook • When the clock strikes Five O’Clock and you’ve got a drink, your next drink will be free. Such is the reason for the moniker of this small tavern off Hastings Way. They’re best known for top-shelf karaoke every Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. They have eight taps, darts, touch-screen games, and a big outdoor patio. Come in for their 10am-noon happy hour. They have an ultimate Bloody Mary complete with a skewer on Sundays from 9am-2pm. Annually ranked as one of the Valley’s best karaoke spots by V1 readers. O Q MILWAUKEE BURGER COMPANY 2620 E

Clairemont Ave., Eau Claire • (715) 834-6503 • milwaukeeburgercompany.com • Milwaukee Burger is more than your average burger joint: Their libations and drink concoctions are impressive too. Happy hour is Monday-Friday 3-6pm, and have expanded their taps to a staggering 40 options. Their enormous Bloody Marys are ranked among the best by our readers, and they offer five different styles, including the Big Mil Bloody, garnished with a mini-cheeseburger, bacon, and cheddar cheese. Popcorn is free. Food served after 10pm on Friday and Saturday. H S WAGNER’S LANES AND THE COMPLEXX 2159

Brackett Ave., Eau Claire • (715) 833-6700 • wagnerslanes.com • With a fully stocked arcade, a new activity dome, leagues a-plenty, and everyday specials, locals know there’s much more to offer. Under the white-domed Complexx, there’s volleyball yearround on three sand courts, plus bean bags and volleypong. Indoors there are darts and bowling leagues on top of the pool, pinball, touch-screen, and arcade games. There’s occasional live music and karaoke, happy hour specials from 3-6pm on weekdays, nightly food and drink specials, free popcorn, plus 16 taps and eight specialty beers. Also, check out the late night happy hour from 9pm-close Sunday-Thursday and after 11pm Friday and Saturday. H O S Q WISCO’S 1920 S Hastings Way, Eau Claire • (715) 514-2505 • facebook.com/sconniesec • BUSH’S IDLEWILD BAR 999 Malden Ave., Eau Claire • (715) 834-2255 • There are plenty of games for drinkers to play such as a gambling machine and pinball, among others. Also open for business are pool tables and dartboards (women’s league for pool on Thursday nights). Happy hour runs from 11 am to 6 pm on weekdays. Four beers on tap and a wide selection of specialty beers IPA. They offer pizzas to munch on if you get hungry (served after 10 pm). H

A Wisconsin themed bar & grill through and through. Burgers, wings, apps, massive sandwiches, and entrees like the brat mac & cheese. They’re the only restaurant in town that serves Chicago style, deep dish pizza. Daily specials include Friday fish fry, all day happy hour on Sunday, ribs on Saturday, and more. They’ve got a signature, specially brewed IPA on tap, among many more, and have axe throwing lanes. H O EAU CLAIRE NORTH

CANCUN MEXICAN GRILL 2713 N. Clairemont Ave., Eau Claire • (715) 830-0211 • cancunmexicangrillwi. com • This family owned, sit-down LISTINGS, REVIEWS Mexican restaurant and bar is known for its

AND MORE AT loud, happy atmosphere. Order a margarita VOLUMEONE.ORG/FOOD in strawberry, raspberry, mango, peach, banana, tamarindo, or regular. If you’re a beer drinker, they have two specialty choices and six on tap. Come in on your birthday for a free shot! Party room available, and 99-cent margaritas on Mondays and Tuesdays.

BRICKHOUSE PUB & GRUB 2233 Birch St, Eau

Claire • (715) 832-6227 • This is a classic afterwork kind of bar. The bartenders remember your name, the beer is cheap and domestic (five taps). They have daily specials including cheeseburgers, steak, chicken sandwiches, BLTs, and fish. They’ve got pool and darts (with leagues), touch screens, and poker machines, but shuffleboard is king. They just started offering comedy nights and have a hall is available for large events; a balcony for small parties. H S HANGAR 54 GRILL 3800 Starr Ave., Eau Claire • (715) 598-1880 • facebook.com/ hangar54grill/ • This airplane-themed upscale pub is located at the Chippewa Valley Regional Airport. Expect an open and inviting atmosphere. Featuring unique, hand-crafted specialty cocktails, wines, tap and bottle beers, and spirits, great food, and big-screen TVs. Happy hours Monday-Saturday from 2-6pm. Check out their unique Hangar Bloody with the works for a true experience. Closed Sundays. H

H = HAPPY HOUR SPECIALS • F = SERVES FOOD (OTHER THAN PIZZA) • O = OUTDOOR PATIO • S = FREE SNACKS • Q = WINNER, 2022 BEST OF THE CHIPPEWA VALLEY 19